SPLIT POWER TOOL
An extendable hedge trimmer includes a housing having a handle end and a tool end. The handle end includes a battery and an electrical connector. The tool end includes a hedge trimming implement, a motor, and an electrical connector. The electrical connector of the tool end is electrically connected with the motor. Wiring is included within the handle end for electrically connecting the battery and the electrical connector of the handle end. The trimmer also includes a pole which is releasably connectable between the tool end and the handle end. The pole is configured for electrically connecting the handle end with the tool end. The trimmer also includes a latch mechanism for releasably attaching the pole between tool end and handle end. The trimmer also includes an input for receiving AC line power via a power cord, the trimmer configured for being power by AC line power and/or battery power.
The present application is a continuation application and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Pat. No. 9,591,809 filed Feb. 24, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part application claiming priority to U.S. Pat. No. 8,136,254 filed Feb. 5, 2008, which is a continuation-in-part application claiming priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/756,214 filed May 31, 2007, which is a non-provisional application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/888,535 filed Feb. 6, 2007, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to an extendable and reconfigurable power tool, and more particularly to a power tool having two halves and an extension pole that can be inserted between the two halves to electrically connect them and make the power head end of the tool operable even though separated from the actuation end.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPower tools are implemented for a variety of tasks, such as for pruning a hedge, cutting low-hanging branches of trees, or the like. However, currently available power tools may not have the desired adaptability or versatility for promoting ease of performance for a variety of jobs or tasks which may be required to be performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to a power tool, including: a housing, the housing including a handle end and a tool end, the handle end and the tool end configured for being removably and directly connected together, the handle end having a battery and an electrical connector, the tool end having a motor and an electrical connector, the electrical connector of the tool end being electrically connected with the motor, the electrical connector of the tool end being electrically connected to the electrical connector of the handle end when the tool end and the handle end are removably connected together; wiring, the wiring being configured within the handle end, the wiring further configured for electrically connecting the battery and the electrical connector of the handle end; and an input for receiving AC line power via a power cord, wherein the power tool is configured for being powered by at least one of AC line power or battery power.
A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to an extendable power tool, including: a housing, the housing including a handle end and a tool end, the handle end having a battery and an electrical connector, the tool end having a motor and an electrical connector, the electrical connector of the tool end being electrically connected with the motor; wiring, the wiring being configured within the handle end, the wiring further configured for electrically connecting the battery and the electrical connector of the handle end; a pole, the pole configured for being releasably connected between said tool end and said handle end when said tool end and said handle end are separated, wherein said pole contains electrical wiring and electrical connectors, said electrical wiring and electrical connectors of the pole being configured for electrically connecting the electrical connector of the handle end with the electrical connector of the tool end; a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism being configured for releasably attaching the pole between the tool end and the handle end; and an input for receiving AC line power via a power cord, wherein the power tool is configured for being powered by at least one of AC line power or battery power.
An additional embodiment of the present invention is directed to an extendable hedge trimmer, including: a housing, the housing including a handle end and a tool end, the handle end having a battery and an electrical connector, the tool end having a hedge trimming implement, a motor and an electrical connector, the electrical connector of the tool end being electrically connected with the motor; wiring, the wiring being configured within the handle end, the wiring further configured for electrically connecting the battery and the electrical connector of the handle end; a pole, the pole configured for being releasably connected between said tool end and said handle end when said tool end and said handle end are separated, wherein said pole contains electrical wiring and electrical connectors, said electrical wiring and electrical connectors of the pole being configured for electrically connecting the electrical connector of the handle end with the electrical connector of the tool end; a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism being configured for releasably attaching the pole between the tool end and the handle end; and an input for receiving AC line power via a power cord, wherein the power tool is configured for being powered by at least one of AC line power or battery power.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Turning now to the Figures and specifically to
A separated view of an embodiment of the power tool 100 with a pole 108 is shown in
While shown herein, the exemplary embodiment power tool may be utilized as a chain saw. Other exemplary embodiments of the tool end 104 may include a saw 221, a hedge trimmer 222, a chainsaw 223, or a gardening attachment 225. An embodiment of a gardening attachment includes a blower 224, as shown in
It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A power tool, comprising:
- a handle end, the handle end having a power source, a trigger, and a first electrical connector electrically connected to the power source;
- a tool end removably attachable to the handle end, the tool end having a motor, and a second electrical connector electrically connected to the motor, wherein the second electrical connector of the tool end is electrically connected to the first electrical connector of the handle end when the tool end is attached to the handle end; and
- a first pair of parallel rails attached to the handle end;
- a second pair of parallel rails attached to the tool end, wherein the first and second pair of rails are slidably connectable to each other;
- a snap mechanism including a spring-biased tab attached to one of the handle end or the tool end and a slot formed into the other of the handle end or the tool end for receiving the spring-biased tab for selectively securing the tool end to the handle end.
9. The power tool of claim 8, wherein the tool end is formed as one of a saw implement, a hedge trimming implement, a chainsaw implement, a blower, or a gardening attachment.
10. The power tool of claim 8, wherein the power source is a battery providing battery power, a power cord for providing AC power, or both the battery and the power cord for providing hybrid power.
11. The power tool of claim 8, wherein the tool end is selectively articulatable in a rotating manner relative to the pole.
12. The power tool of claim 8, wherein the first electrical connector is positioned adjacent to a lower end of the first pair of rails, and the second electrical connector is positioned adjacent to a lower end of the second pair of rails.
13. The power tool of claim 12, wherein the spring-biased tab is located adjacent to an upper end of the first pair of rails, and the slot is located adjacent to an upper end of the second pair of rails.
14. The power tool of claim 12, wherein the spring-biased tab is located adjacent to an upper end of the second pair of rails, and the slot is located adjacent to an upper end of the first pair of rails.
15. A power tool, comprising:
- a handle end, the handle end having a power source, a trigger, a first pair of parallel rails, a spring-biased tab, and a first electrical connector electrically connected to the power source;
- a tool end removably attachable to the handle end, the tool end having a motor, a second pair of parallel rails, a slot, and a second electrical connector electrically connected to the motor, wherein the second electrical connector of the tool end is electrically connected to the first electrical connector of the handle end and the first pair of rails slidably connected to the second pair of rails when the tool end is attached to the handle end; and
- wherein the spring-biased tab is received in the slot for selectively releasably securing the tool end to the handle end.
16. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the tool end is formed as one of a saw implement, a hedge trimming implement, a chainsaw implement, a blower, or a gardening attachment.
17. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the power source is a battery providing battery power, a power cord for providing AC power, or both the battery and the power cord for providing hybrid power.
18. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the handle end is attachable to the tool end in a vertical sliding manner.
19. A power tool, comprising:
- a pole including a first pair of parallel rails, a first electrical connector, and a first slot positioned adjacent to an upper end of the first pair of parallel rails located at a first distal end of the pole, and a second pair of parallel rails, a second electrical connector, and a first spring-biased tab positioned adjacent to an upper end of the second pair of parallel rails located at a second distal end of the pole;
- a handle end attached to the second distal end of the pole, the handle end having a power source, a trigger, a third pair of parallel rails, a second slot, and a third electrical connector electrically connected to the power source, wherein the third electrical connector is attached to the second electrical connector and the third pair of rails is attached to the second pair of rails when the handle end is attached to the pole;
- a tool end attached to the first distal end of the pole, the tool end having a motor, a fourth pair of parallel rails, a second spring-biased tab, and a fourth electrical connector electrically connected to the motor, wherein the fourth electrical connector is attached to the first electrical connector and the fourth pair of rails is attached to the first pair of rails when the tool end is attached to the pole.
20. The power tool of claim 19, wherein the tool end is formed as one of a saw implement, a hedge trimming implement, a chainsaw implement, a blower, or a gardening attachment.
21. The power tool of claim 19, wherein the power source is a battery providing battery power, a power cord for providing AC power, or both the battery and the power cord for providing hybrid power.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 10, 2017
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2017
Inventors: Jason Gieske (Bowling Green, KY), Cherry A. Bochmann (Bay Village, OH), Erin Q. Riddell (Bay Village, OH)
Application Number: 15/455,512